Afghan forces to lead controversial night raids

The United States and Afghanistan have signed an agreement ending the unpopular practice of night raids by US special forces.

The deal is seen as an important step towards a more comprehensive long-term partnership agreement between the two countries.

The deal has taken months of negotiations and it is considered to be an important step toward strengthening the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

Until now, US special forces had been conducting raids on the homes of suspected insurgents.

But the practice has been fuelling resentment among Afghan families, who say the raids violate cultural norms, humiliate them and expose women to the eyes of strangers.

From now on, only Afghan forces will be allowed to search and inspect private homes in these operations.

The agreement is seen as an important step toward a broader strategic partnership that will commit the US to another decade of involvement in Afghanistan in areas like development and education.

"This is a paradigm shift in the way special operations are being conducted," a US official involved in the negotiations said.

"They (the Afghans) have the initial say... they are the ones who are deciding to conduct an operation."

The document states that Afghan special operations forces will lead the missions and only Afghan forces should search private homes and compounds, although they can have "support from US forces... as required or requested".

A spokesman for Afghan president Hamid Karzai said warrants would have to be issued by Afghan legal authorities, and Kabul would have control over captured prisoners.

In their supporting role, foreign forces could provide "intelligence sharing... air support or other modern technology," the spokesman said.

"Afghans will determine whether there is a need for the foreigners to take part."

General John Allen, the US commander of NATO-led forces, said it was an important step closer to the shared goal and vision of a secure and sovereign Afghanistan.

Pentagon spokesman George Little hailed the agreement as a "major step forward," saying in a tweet that the pact "marks progress in transition process and in Afghan capabilities".